People Inc. Lilly Senior Living in Blasdell Hosts Open House and Yard Sale

Applications Accepted for Affordable and Safe Apartments   If your mom or dad is looking for affordable housing or if you are a senior looking to downsize, consider People Inc.’s Lilly Senior Living. To showcase its apartment building, People Inc. Lilly Senior Living will host an Open House and Multi-family Yard Sale on Friday, June 8, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at 36 Arthur Avenue in Blasdell (border of South Buffalo) . The affordable senior living complex is conveniently located to restaurants, Hamburg shopping district, McKinley Mall, Erie County Fairgrounds and churches.   Whether thinking of downsizing, removing the burden of owning a home or renting an overly expensed apartment, People Inc.’s Lilly Senior Living provides seniors the chance to live affordably. Apartments are for individuals age 62 and older who meet federally mandated income guidelines. Applications are being accepted and tours will be available during the Open House.   A multi-family yard sale will be held in conjunction with the Open House event. Household goods, furniture, books, games, clothing and more will be available for sale. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the tenant fund to support activities.   For more information about the Open House or Multi-family Yard Sale, call 716.821.1230.   People Inc. manages 17 senior apartment locations throughout Western New York providing safe, affordable housing for seniors age 62 and older who meet income requirements. For more information about other locations, call 716.817.9090.

Tenants of People Inc. Pine Senior Living Host Lunch for Rapids Volunteer Fire Company

What: People Inc. Pine Senior Living Host Lunch for Rapids Volunteer Fire Company   When:  Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.   Where:  People Inc. Pine Senior Living, 6231 Tonawanda Creek North, Lockport   As a token of their appreciation, the tenants of People Inc.’s Pine Senior Living will host a cookout for the Rapids Volunteer Fire Company. The tenants and staff wish to thank the volunteer fire group for their kindness when assisting the residents in emergency situations and for their community involvement.   People Inc. manages 17 senior apartment locations throughout Western New York providing safe, affordable housing for seniors age 62 and older who meet income requirements. For an application or a tour of People Inc. Pine Senior Living, call 716-433-3381. To learn more about other locations and eligibility requirements, call 716-817-9090.

James M. Boles Shares Institution and Disability History of Niagara County

Presentation at Niagara County Historical Society Includes Book Signing James M. Boles, Ed.D., president and chief executive officer of People Inc., Western New York’s largest health and human services agency, will share his research for his latest book, “When There Were Poorhouses, Early Care in Rural New York, 1808-1950,” on   Thursday, April 26, at 2 p.m. The presentation and book signing will be held at the Niagara County Historical Society, 215 Niagara Street in Lockport. Boles’ main interests include local history, the history of disabilities and research. To prevent them from slipping into the void of abandoned history, this book describes the institutions – some highly visible and others lesser  known in and near Niagara county – that provided some of the earliest organized care for the blind, deaf, sick, disabled, insane and destitute. Niagara County, a rural county of New York State, serves as a historical model for study of the various institutions: the poorhouses, almshouses, sanatoriums, asylums, orphanages, pest houses, widows houses, hospitals, and special schools in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The book indicates that society’s predecessors, however harsh and out-moded their care seems now, labored under and along with societal attitudes that mandated a sense of responsibility toward the needy in their midst. Their early efforts provided a foundation for many of the programs in New York State that offer progressive services to its citizens today. “Working in the human services field for over 40 years, I saw many changes. Realizing that there was a reluctance to look into the past care which took place in the institutions that served the sick and disabled, I developed an interest in preserving this history,” shared Boles. Boles, who grew up in Lockport and current resident of Snyder, attended Columbia University in New York to earn a Doctor of Education degree and Master of Education degree specializing in Family and Community Relations. In 1981, Boles started working for People Inc. and is currently responsible for the overall administration, which has grown to 2,800 staff and serving more than 10,000 individuals. Boles is also the founder of the Museum of disABILITY History, located at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo. In May 2006, Boles was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as an advisory committee member on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. In 2011, he received the Hervey B. Wilbur Preservation Award from the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for his work in establishing the Museum of disABILITY History. The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs, and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History offers educational exhibits and activities that expand community awareness. People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 10,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

Headway of Western New York’s Hosts Annual Spring Fundraiser

Headway of WNY, a not-for-profit agency and an affiliate of People Inc., will host their annual fundraising event called “Healing, Growing, Celebrating Life” on Thursday, May 10, from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. It will be held at Westwood Country Club, Windows on the Green, 772 North Forest Road, Williamsville (corner of North Forest Road and Sheridan Drive). The event includes music, food and auctions. Support of this event assists Headway of WNY continue support and advocacy for persons with brain injuries and other disabilities. Headway of WNY strives to help a variety of people, from young adults to seniors, in their journey after injury and disability. Services include: advocacy, direct support groups, a resource directory, community education program and a partnership with the Veteran’s Hospital to support veterans who are injured and their families. Tickets for the event are $40 each and include food and two hours of beverages (beer, wine and soda) and a chance to win door prizes. For more information, call 716-408-3100. Brain injury is often referred to as the unseen epidemic. Every 21 seconds one person in the U.S. sustains a brain injury 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer brain injuries each year. Half of these are children. 30 years ago, most people with severe injuries would have died. Now with improved trauma care, the majority survive. The cost is over $60 billion annually and more than 7 million people in the U.S. live with a lifelong disability as a result of a brain injury. Headway of WNY, a not-for-profit agency and an affiliate of People Inc., provides resources, support groups, recreational programs, training and educational programs to both survivors and caregivers of brain injury. Headway of WNY, Inc. is a volunteer support, advocacy and resource organization that was founded in 1985 by caring families and individuals who have survived brain injury and other disabilities. “Traumatic brain injury isn’t an event that you recover from. It is an event you live with for the rest of your life.”

Disability History Curriculum Bill being pushed in the State Legislature

Last year a bill was introduced in the New York State Legislature requiring children in grades K-12 in New York State be taught through a curriculum developed by the Museum of disABILITY History the history of people with disabilities. The bill and curriculum aim to promote greater awareness and understanding of people with disabilities by amending current NYS Education Law 801 to make available to all students “suitable curriculum materials to aid in the instruction, understanding and acceptance of students with disabilities.” The bill is sponsored by Senator Mark Grisanti of Buffalo and Assemblymember Michael Cusick of Staten Island. Cusick is also the Chair for the NYS Assembly’s Disabilities Task Force. “Teaching kids this important history will open their minds to the unfortunate past of how people with disabilities have been treated while at the same time show them the contribution they make and will continue to make to society,” said James M. Boles, Ed.D., president and chief operating officer of People Inc. Presently the bill is in the Education Committees of both houses of the Legislature. The goal is to get the bill passed by the end of the Legislature’s legislative session this June. For more information, contact People Inc. Public Affairs Director Kevin Horrigan at Khorrigan@people-inc.org or 716.817.7475.

Anti-Bullying Initiative

The Museum of disABILITY History and People Inc. have begun development of an Anti-Bullying Program which will educate and encourage students to recognize and report bullying incidents they witness in their schools. The anticipated goal is to decrease the number of incidents that occur. Brie Kishel, project coordinator, has been researching the “Dignity for all Students Act,” legislation that will be going into effect on July 1, 2012, while also attending seminars and public forums in the local school districts to better understand the key concepts and concerns schools are trying to address. The goal is to have this curriculum available during the 2013 school year. The program will be a stand-alone community outreach program of the Museum and People Inc. designed for fourth grade elementary students. Although the approach of the program will be “teaching through puppetry,” this is a separate project from the Kids on the Block. For more information, contact Brie Kishel at Bkishel@people-inc.org or 716.629.3623. 

People Inc. Chocolate Store Hosts Kids Day at Airport Plaza Jewelers “The Showroom”

Aaaaand…….What’s up Doc? Meet Bugs Bunny! Bring Your Camera! Kids Day at Chocolate Store Showroom Hosted by People Inc. Saturday, March 31, 2012 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bugs Bunny Appearance: noon-3:30 p.m. Airport Plaza Jewelers - “The Showroom” 4230 Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY (33 Expressway East to the Union Road Exit, behind the Kiosk and next to Subway) In conjunction with People Inc.’s Fowler’s Chocolate Fundraising Sale, “The Showroom” Store at Airport Plaza Jewelers will host a Kid’s Day, a fun free event for the entire family. There will be appearance presented by Time Warner Cable by Bugs Bunny, between noon-3:30 p.m. for kids to enjoy. Kids on the Block of WNY, a project of People Inc., will greet visitors from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Kids on the Block is an internationally acclaimed educational program promoting the awareness and acceptance of individual differences through the use of live puppet theater. Bring your camera to take photos with the Easter Bunny and Bugs Bunny! Additionally, there will also be face painting for kids to enjoy.    For the third year in a row, People Inc. has partnered with Fowler’s Chocolates and Airport Plaza Jewelers for a community-wide chocolate fundraiser. People Inc. will receive 100 percent of the net proceeds. The Airport Plaza Jewelers “Showroom” has been transferred into a beautifully decorated Chocolate Store. The store will be open until April 7 with various hours for community members to purchase chocolate sweets and to benefit a worthy cause all at the same time. Through a variety of services including residential, supported employment, community outreach, health care, recreation programs and senior living apartments, People Inc. assists individuals with disabilities and their families, and seniors to live independent and productive lives. People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 10,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

“A Sens-ible Home” and Our Changing Senses

Lecture presented by Center for Disability Studies at the Museum of disABILITY History February 24, 2012: Our senses change significantly throughout the lifespan, but too often the designs of homes do not reflect this fact. The Center for Disability Studies will present “A Sens-ible Home” on Friday, March 2, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street in Buffalo (just north of the University at Buffalo South Campus). The discussion will be led by Professor Beth Tauke, a faculty member at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning and the Director of the University Educational Activities for the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (the IDEA Center). Professor Tauke will discuss the LIFEhouse TM , a universally designed concept house and model residence that was developed by University at Buffalo’s IDEA Center and a number of partners. LIFEhouse TM provides an example of a residence adapted to a person’s changing needs throughout the course of a lifetime. The house and its site incorporate multisensory perception with universal design principles. LIFEhouse™ won the 2012 National Home Builder’s Association Best Universally Designed Home Award. For more information or to schedule a tour of the Museum of disABILITY History, call 716.629.3626. The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs, and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History offers educational exhibits and activities that expand community awareness. People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 10,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

People Inc. is Member Spotlight in Tonawanda Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

The Tonawanda Chamber of Commerce newsletter features People Inc. as the Member Spotlight. The article celebrates the agency’s 40th anniversary and a variety of programs. Thank you to the Tonawanda Chamber of Commerce! Click on the newsletter to read the article on page 3.